NHTSA Complaint #10863694 — 2007 DODGE RAM 1500

FOR THE PAST WEEK MY ENGINE WAS DIFFICULT TO START. CRANKED FOR ABOUT 20 SECOND BEFORE STARTING. TODAY THE ENGINE CRANKED BUT FAILED TO START. AFTER OPENING THE HOOD AND CHECKING THE BATTERY I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE FUSE BOX, TIPM, WHICH IS LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE BATTERY. I OPENED THE COVER TO THE TIPM AND NOTICED WHITE POWDER, ACID. THE NEGATIVE LEAD WHICH IS ALSO CONNECTED TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIPM HAD WHITE POWDER RESIDUE ON THE CONNECTOR. I TRIED ONCE AGAIN TO START THE VEHICLE BUT ONLY CRANKED. THEN SOME SMOKE WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM THE TIPM. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND MADE SURE NOTHING WAS STILL BURNING. I READ ON LINE THAT TIPM FAILURE IS COMMON WITH MY VEHICLE AND OTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCTS BUT A RECALL WAS NOT ISSUED. THIS COULD HAVE TURNED INTO A SAFETY ISSUE IF MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO CATCH FIRE. I HAVE TO SPEND $100 IN TOWING COST AND ~$800 TO REPAIR.